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International Journal of Research in Medical Sciences
Shukla A et al. Int J Res Med Sci. 2015 Jan;3(1):269-272
www.msjonline.org
pISSN 2320-6071 | eISSN 2320-6012
DOI: 10.5455/2320-6012.ijrms20150148
Research Article
Altered high density lipoprotein (HDL), triglyceride (TG) and
anthropometric measurements in normal, overweight
and obese under graduate medical students
Ashish Shukla, Jaskiran Kaur, Akash Gupta*
Department of Biochemistry, Subharti Medical College, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, India
Received: 4 December 2014
Accepted: 17 December 2014
*Correspondence:
Dr. Akash Gupta,
E-mail: [email protected]
Copyright: © the author(s), publisher and licensee Medip Academy. This is an open-access article distributed under
the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License, which permits unrestricted non-commercial
use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
ABSTRACT
Background: Obesity has reached epidemic proportions in India, affecting 5% of the country’s population.
Urbanization and modernization has been associated with obesity in population of younger generation. The aim of the
study was to find out variation in metabolic indicators (HDL, TG and anthropometric measurements) of normal
overweight and obese undergraduate medical students.
Methods: Total of 194 students took part in this study. Their height, weight and waist circumference were measured
by standard methods. Their serum was estimated for HDL, TG and, fasting sugar on fully automatic Vitros 250 dry
chemistry analyser from Orthoclinical diagnostics from Johnson & Johnson USA.
Results: Over all females students were more overweight (Females 16% and Males 8%) and obese (F 18%, M 9%) as
compared to males. Blood pressure, weight, waist circumference, HDL, and TG levels were more in overweight and
obese group as compared to normal group.
Conclusion: The results of the current study have shown an increasing trend of obesity and derangement of metabolic
indicators among under graduate medical students.
Keywords: High density lipoprotein, Triglyceride, Obesity, Metabolic syndrome
INTRODUCTION
Obesity has reached epidemic proportions in India in the
21st century, with morbid obesity affecting 5% of the
country’s population.1 Urbanization and modernization
has been associated with obesity.2 In Northern India
obesity was most prevalent in urban populations (Males
5.5%, Females 12.6%), followed by urban slums (Males
1.6%, Females 3.8%).2 Socioeconomic class also had an
effect on the rate of obesity. Women of high
socioeconomic class had rates of 10.4% as opposed to
0.9% in women of low socioeconomic class.3
Obesity is a state of excess adipose tissue mass. It is
gauged by Body Mass Index (BMI) which is equal to
weight upon height square (in Kg/m2)4 and further
evaluated in terms of fat distribution by measuring the
Waist Circumference (WC) and total cardiovascular risk
factors.5 BMI is closely related to both percentage body
fat and total body fat.6 In children, a healthy weight
varies with age and sex. Obesity in children and
adolescent is defined as an absolute no in relation to
historical normal group, such that obesity is a BMI >95th
percentile.7 The reference data on which these percentiles
were based dated from 1963 to 1994, and thus have not
been affected by the recent increase in weight.8 With
people moving into urban centres and wealth increasing,
concerns about an obesity epidemic in India are growing.
So the study was conducted on under graduate medical
college students to observe the changes in metabolic
indicators.
International Journal of Research in Medical Sciences | January 2015 | Vol 3 | Issue 1
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Shukla A et al. Int J Res Med Sci. 2015 Jan;3(1):269-272
Table 1: Classification of BMI according to WHO.
BMI (Kg/m2)
<18.5
18.6-24.99
25-29.9
30-34.99
35-39.99
>40
RESULTS
Classification9
Underweight
Normal weight
Overweight
Class I
Class II
Class III
The mean age of undergraduate medical students selected
in our study was 20.6 ± 2.1 year. According to BMI we
have divided them into three groups, normal, overweight
and obese. Out of 194 students 92 were found to be
normal, 48 were overweight and obese.
METHODS
Current study was conducted on 194 undergraduate
medical students of Subharti medical college, Meerut in
the year 2013-2014.
The students were informed about the significance of
study and its outcome. A written consent was obtained
from all of the students.
All participants were subjected to anthropometric
measurements including height, weight and abdominal
circumference and their fasting blood sugar, High
Density Lipoprotein (HDL) and triglycerides (TGs).
Anthropometric measurements were done by standard
procedures.
Fasting blood sugar, HDL, and TGs were estimated by
Vitros 250 fully automatic analyser using readymade dry
chemistry kits from Orthoclinical diagnostics, Johnson
and Johnson, USA.
Table 2 compares the distribution of males and females
according to BMI values. Among the males 29% were
normal, 8% were overweight and 9% were obese. In case
of females 17% were normal, 16% were overweight and
18% were obese. Overall females were more overweight
and obese as compared to males.
Data of anthropometric parameters are summarized in
Table 3 which indicates that mean ± SD values of WC
and weight were significantly higher (P <0.001) in
overweight and obese as compared to normal group.
There was a direct proportional relationship of BMI to
WC and weight (P <0.001).
The values of metabolic indicators among normal,
overweight and obese group are compared in Table 4.
BP, HDL and TG were significantly altered in
overweight and obese as compared to normal group.
There was no significant alteration in blood sugar levels
and its values were within the normal range in all the
three groups.
Table 2: Distribution of sex according to BMI values.
Data was analysed by unpaired student t test. Values were
given as Mean ± SD. P value of <0.001 was considered
as significant.
Normal
Overweight
Obese
Male
58 (29%)
16 (8%)
19 (9%)
Female
34 (17%)
32 (16%)
35 (18%)
Table 3: Anthropometric measurements in normal, overweight and obese students.
No. of students
Waist circumference
Weight
Normal
(BMI- 18.6-24.9)
92
80.57 ± 9.4
58.31 ± 7.8
Overweight
(BMI-25-29.9)
48
91.71 ± 18.4
72.83 ± 6.4
Obese
(BMI- >30)
54
95.26 ± 18.2
87.94 ± 13.2
P value
P <0.001
P <0.001
Table 4: Metabolic indicators in normal, overweight and obese student.
Systolic BP
Diastolic BP
Fasting sugar
HDL
TG
Normal
117.12 ± 13.3
81.25 ± 7.8
69.51 ± 8.3
51.2 ± 15.9
81.87 ± 29.3
Overweight
125.37 ± 17.3
86.72 ± 8.8
71.84 ± 11.9
44.96 ± 9.4
84.63 ± 12.6
Obese
132.52 ± 10.9
88.68 ± 11.1
73.56 ± 12.5
41.54 ± 9.4
118.6 ± 37.1
P value
P <0.001
P <0.001
P <0.001
P <0.001
P <0.001
International Journal of Research in Medical Sciences | January 2015 | Vol 3 | Issue 1
Page 270
Shukla A et al. Int J Res Med Sci. 2015 Jan;3(1):269-272
DISCUSSION
Many studies have shown an increased alteration in lipid
profile and anthropometric parameters among the medical
students which can be suggestive of risk factors for
metabolic syndrome leading to diabetes and
hypertension. Further many studies have shown an
increase in the incidences of cardiovascular disorders
worldwide especially in developing countries due to
altered lipid profile and abnormal anthropometric
parameters.10-12 Anthropometric variables also have been
extensively been shown to predict cardiovascular risk.13
Some of the studies have also shown a considerable
prevalence of overweight and obesity, particularly in
females, among university students.
In the study done by Silva JCS et al.14 BMI showed a
directly proportional relationship with serum total
cholesterol and LDL-c levels. The greater the BMI value,
greater the prevalence of higher than desired values for
these parameters, which indicates the importance of this
simple and in expensive anthropometric evaluation.
According to Ogus E et al.15 as the body weight
increases, so does the risk of metabolic syndrome.
Considering the interaction between gender and weight,
males over 80 kg are at higher risk of metabolic
syndrome than females. Similar to our study significant
finding were also observed in a study conducted by
Rashidi et al.16 in Iran, who reported that metabolic
students are at risk of developing metabolic syndrome.
Huang et al.17 reported that being overweight increases
the risk for experiencing at least one component of the
metabolic syndrome by approximately three fold among
US college students with an average age of 22.2 ± 1.7
years.
Koziarska et al.18 evaluated that young men (mean age
24.9 ± 2.6) are at greater risk than women (mean age 24.2
± 2.5) among the young students in Poland, where as this
tendency is reversed in elderly people.
Another study presented at the 2009 World Congress on
Public Health19 found that the percentage of the students
of the Universidad Juarez Autonoma de Tebasco, Mexico
have metabolic syndrome due to risk factors during the
earlier years and men had more risk factors than the
women in this university.
CONCLUSION
The results of the current study have shown an increased
trend of obesity and derangement of metabolic indicators
among undergraduate medical students. One of the
causative factors could be excessive use of electronic
gadgets by our younger generation which spent most of
their time on television, mobiles and computer, so there is
lack of physical activity and increase in sedentary life
style leading to risk of cardiovascular disorders, diabetes
and metabolic syndrome. Some of the metabolic
indicators can be modified by change in lifestyle pattern
and indulgence in physical activity. Some of the
educational programme should be based on the holistic
approach which includes dietary modification, practicing
yoga and meditation.
Funding: No funding sources
Conflict of interest: None declared
Ethical approval: The study was approved by the
institutional ethics committee
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DOI: 10.5455/2320-6012.ijrms20150148
Cite this article as: Shukla A, Kaur J, Gupta A.
Altered high density lipoprotein (HDL), triglyceride
(TG) and anthropometric measurements in normal,
overweight and obese under graduate medical
students. Int J Res Med Sci 2015;3:269-72.
International Journal of Research in Medical Sciences | January 2015 | Vol 3 | Issue 1
Page 272